Sevilla slam referee after Arda Guler incident in Real Madrid rout

Real Madrid’s 4-1 home win over Sevilla at the Bernabeu was followed by strong complaints from the visitors over two refereeing decisions, most notably an incident involving Arda Guler and Peque while the game remained level.

Sevilla contest early Guler decision

The pivotal moment, in Sevilla’s view, came in the 22nd minute. Guler was pursuing the ball towards goal when he appeared to strike Sevilla forward Peque with an elbow. Sevilla appealed for a dismissal, but play continued and the Turkish international remained on the pitch.

Garcia Plaza argued that the failure to show a red card changed the nature of the contest. He accepted that Madrid had been the better side when both teams had 11 players, but felt Sevilla had been denied the opportunity to play for more than an hour with a numerical advantage.

“Eleven against eleven, they deserved to win, but we were deprived of the chance to play a different game,” Garcia Plaza said. He added that Peque told him at half-time that he had been hit, and maintained that the challenge warranted a sending-off.

• The disputed Guler-Peque incident occurred with the score at 0-0.
• Garcia Plaza said Sevilla should have faced 10 men from roughly the 25th minute.
• The Sevilla coach believed his side could have played for 65 minutes with an extra player.
• Madrid ultimately completed a 4-1 victory at the Bernabeu.

Second-goal complaint adds to Sevilla frustration

Sevilla’s objections did not end with the Guler incident. Garcia Plaza also said there had been a foul on defender Ure in the move before Real Madrid scored their second goal.

He did not suggest that the alleged foul was worthy of a red card, but insisted it should have been penalised. Garcia Plaza said he had been informed the contact was not shown on television coverage, although he regarded it as clear.

The Sevilla coach went further in his assessment of the earlier decision, wondering whether officials had been reluctant to make a call that could affect the title race before next weekend’s El Clasico. He stressed that Madrid might still have won, while repeating his belief that the match should have unfolded differently after the opening quarter.

Mourinho rejects Sevilla allegations

Mourinho dismissed the visitors’ complaints after the match, saying no video evidence had been presented to support their version of the Guler incident. He said his player denied wrongdoing and suggested Sevilla were attempting to shift attention away from the scale of the result.

Madrid will now turn towards their meeting with Barcelona next weekend, carrying momentum from an emphatic victory as they seek to strengthen their position at the top of the table.

Sevilla must reset after Bernabeu defeat

For Sevilla, the result was a punishing one on the road and the post-match focus remained firmly on the officiating. Garcia Plaza nevertheless acknowledged Madrid’s superiority at full strength, even as he argued that the non-dismissal of Guler had undermined his side’s plan.

The Andalusian club must now put the controversy aside ahead of their upcoming league fixtures, with composure and tactical discipline required after a damaging afternoon in Madrid.